Williams will be hoping for a drastic improvement next season after a dismal 2018, and have utilised their Mercedes partnership to scoop a highly-rated member of the Silver Arrows' young driver academy.

Although their decision has seemingly closed another avenue for Ocon, with the Grove team believed to be favouring either current driver Sirotkin or reserve Kubica to partner Russell next year, the Frenchman is one of the drivers in contention to fill the vacancy.

Ocon, set to leave Force India despite an impressive two years, has held talks with Williams but they are unlikely to sign two Mercedes-affiliated drivers for 2019.

There are now just four seats up for grabs on next year's grid.

Lance Stroll, who currently drives for Williams alongside Sirotkin, is expected to join Force India next year after his father led a buy-out of the team.

What's being said about Russell's appointmentGeorge Russell: "It is a huge honour to join a team of Williams' prestige and heritage. Formula One has been a life-long dream. From watching the races when I was a child, it feels surreal that I will now be lining up on the grid, alongside drivers whom I have admired for years."

Claire Williams: "We have always tried to promote and develop young talent at Williams, and George fits that ethos perfectly. He is already highly regarded in the paddock and a driver whose career we have been watching for a while."

Big congrats to @GeorgeRussell63 confirmed as an @WilliamsRacing driver for 2019. The second driver from Kings Lynn to get to F1 and potentially the second driver to win both GP3 & F2 titles and reach F1. Really chuffed for you fella

The rise of RussellRussell enjoyed plenty of success in the junior categories even before he was signed to the Mercedes programme in January 2017 - but it's fair to say his career has taken off since then.

The Briton won the GP3 Series at the first attempt, and now leads the F2 championship by 37 points with just two races remaining despite fierce pressure from Alexander Albon and McLaren's Norris.

If he holds to win the title, Russell will join Charles Leclerc (2017) as well as, going back to when F2 was called GP2, Nico Rosberg (2005), Lewis Hamilton (2006) and Nico Hulkenberg (2009) as drivers to have won that series in their rookie year.

He has also impressed in an F1 car before.

Russell took part in two practice sessions with Force India at the end of last season, not finishing far behind his team-mate on both outings, while he has also had four official F1 test days with Mercedes.